Gasperini holds pre-match press conference ahead of Lecce fixture

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 30 August 2026, the day before Roma's Serie A fixture against Lecce at the Via del Mare on 31 August at 18:30. The head coach defended Roma's transfer activity this summer, saying the arrivals of De Roon and Balerdi have brought "two captains" and enhanced the squad's physical robustness. "Economically it gives us the possibility to bring interest also on another role," Gasperini said, indicating Roma still have funds available for further recruitment before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 1 September. Gasperini confirmed that Rensch will return to group training on Tuesday and Pellegrini from the following week. He explained De Roon's move came quickly, within the last 24–48 hours, after contact with Percassi and the player's strong desire to join Roma. The switch allows Neil El Aynaoui to seek a move where he feels more valued. "We are very solid under this aspect," Gasperini said of the midfield overhaul. On the remaining gaps, he identified a left-back and an attacking winger as priorities: "To complete we must take at least one piece, a full-back and an outside forward remain. If we take two we will be 21, if we take one we will be 20. It is not a large squad." He noted that Emanuele Lulli has done well in defence but the club must prepare for a gruelling fixture schedule and injury contingencies. Gasperini addressed concerns about the gap to Napoli and Inter. "Roma suffered from the PSR rules and had to lower the wage bill, and certain players we aspired to reach to be stronger was not possible. The society was available," he said. "We must thank all those who came back despite having to lower their contracts just to play at Roma. This is a great spirit that forms inside, and under this aspect we are among the very first, if not the very first." On Matías Soulé, amid transfer speculation, Gasperini stated: "I have never known of a proposal all summer for him like for other chatted-about players. There has never been anything concrete." Regarding the Champions League group draw on 27 August, he said: "It is a beautiful group with matches of great prestige. Arriving in the top eight is hard for everyone; the objective is to stay inside the playoff spots." Gasperini confirmed Molina has recovered well after playing in the World Cup final and will feature on 31 August, though possibly not from the start. He stressed that Soulé, despite transfer talk, is likely to play against Lecce. On De Roon's age and past comments about Roma, Gasperini said: "When you know him you will understand he is a very solid person, intact physically. He is a player of value, not prospect. He is amusing on social media, a nice person." The transfer market remains open until 1 September, with focus expected to shift entirely to football thereafter.

Roma will play their second Serie A fixture of the 2026–27 season at Lecce on Monday 31 August, kicking off at 18:30 at Stadio Via del Mare. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will hold his pre-match press conference on Sunday 30 August at 13:30 at the Centro Sportivo Fulvio Bernardini. Lecce are managed by Eusebio Di Francesco. The conference will be streamed live on Roma's official social media channels and covered in real-time text updates on Romanews.eu.

Roma head coach Gian Piero Gasperini will address the media on Sunday at 13:30, the day before the club's second Serie A fixture of the season away at Lecce on Monday at 18:30. The appointment comes after Roma's convincing opening victory against Fiorentina. Gasperini faces few selection dilemmas ahead of the Lecce match. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable, but Nahuel Molina has recovered and will compete with Lulli for a place in the squad. On the attacking midfield line, Rodrigo Mora is favoured over Matías Soulé to operate behind forwards Donyell Malen and Paulo Dybala.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 30 August 2026, the day before Roma's Serie A fixture against Lecce at the Via del Mare on 31 August at 18:30. The head coach defended Roma's transfer activity this summer, saying the arrivals of De Roon and Balerdi have brought "two captains" and enhanced the squad's physical robustness. "Economically it gives us the possibility to bring interest also on another role," Gasperini said, indicating Roma still have funds available for further recruitment before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 1 September. Gasperini confirmed that Rensch will return to group training on Tuesday and Pellegrini from the following week. He explained De Roon's move came quickly, within the last 24–48 hours, after contact with Percassi and the player's strong desire to join Roma. The switch allows Neil El Aynaoui to seek a move where he feels more valued. "We are very solid under this aspect," Gasperini said of the midfield overhaul. On the remaining gaps, he identified a left-back and an attacking winger as priorities: "To complete we must take at least one piece, a full-back and an outside forward remain. If we take two we will be 21, if we take one we will be 20. It is not a large squad." He noted that Emanuele Lulli has done well in defence but the club must prepare for a gruelling fixture schedule and injury contingencies. Gasperini addressed concerns about the gap to Napoli and Inter. "Roma suffered from the PSR rules and had to lower the wage bill, and certain players we aspired to reach to be stronger was not possible. The society was available," he said. "We must thank all those who came back despite having to lower their contracts just to play at Roma. This is a great spirit that forms inside, and under this aspect we are among the very first, if not the very first." On Matías Soulé, amid transfer speculation, Gasperini stated: "I have never known of a proposal all summer for him like for other chatted-about players. There has never been anything concrete." Regarding the Champions League group draw on 27 August, he said: "It is a beautiful group with matches of great prestige. Arriving in the top eight is hard for everyone; the objective is to stay inside the playoff spots." Gasperini confirmed Molina has recovered well after playing in the World Cup final and will feature on 31 August, though possibly not from the start. He stressed that Soulé, despite transfer talk, is likely to play against Lecce. On De Roon's age and past comments about Roma, Gasperini said: "When you know him you will understand he is a very solid person, intact physically. He is a player of value, not prospect. He is amusing on social media, a nice person." The transfer market remains open until 1 September, with focus expected to shift entirely to football thereafter.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intent on maintaining tactical consistency after the Fiorentina match. The team will keep the same attacking structure, with Rodrigo Mora operating in the trequarti alongside the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who are expected to develop their understanding further. Wesley is certain to start on the left flank. On the opposite wing, Nahuel Molina is set to make his first start, having fully recovered and winning the contest with young squad member Emanuele Lulli. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable due to a muscle complaint, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not expected to return until September. The midfield will be marshalled by Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The defensive line will see Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso deployed in front of goal, with Konstantinos Koulierakis ready to come on during the match. The change from the previous fixture appears limited to Molina's elevation to the starting eleven, underlining Gasperini's confidence in the team's recent form and tactical setup.

Roma will learn the full league-phase schedule for the UEFA Champions League on 29 August, with the phase running from 8–10 September through 27 January. Real Madrid, Sporting, Lille and Slovan Bratislava will visit the Olimpico, while Roma travel to face PSG, Manchester United, Fenerbahçe and AEK Athens. The club has already sold 40,000 cup subscriptions, with the Curva Sud and Distinti Sud sections sold out. Head coach Gian Piero Gasperini appears set to keep the starting eleven largely intact following Roma's convincing opening display against Fiorentina, fielding it again away at Lecce on Via del Mare. Rodrigo Mora is on course to start alongside Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen in attack, with a battle between Giorgio De Marzi and Nahuel Molina for the right-back position. Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka, Mario Hermoso, Bryan Cristante and Manu Koné are expected to retain their places. Defence headaches persist: Devyne Rensch will miss the Lecce trip due to a left-flexor problem and continues treatment, while Lorenzo Pellegrini continues his recovery work on an individual programme.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 30 August 2026, the day before Roma's Serie A fixture against Lecce at the Via del Mare on 31 August at 18:30. The head coach defended Roma's transfer activity this summer, saying the arrivals of De Roon and Balerdi have brought "two captains" and enhanced the squad's physical robustness. "Economically it gives us the possibility to bring interest also on another role," Gasperini said, indicating Roma still have funds available for further recruitment before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 1 September. Gasperini confirmed that Rensch will return to group training on Tuesday and Pellegrini from the following week. He explained De Roon's move came quickly, within the last 24–48 hours, after contact with Percassi and the player's strong desire to join Roma. The switch allows Neil El Aynaoui to seek a move where he feels more valued. "We are very solid under this aspect," Gasperini said of the midfield overhaul. On the remaining gaps, he identified a left-back and an attacking winger as priorities: "To complete we must take at least one piece, a full-back and an outside forward remain. If we take two we will be 21, if we take one we will be 20. It is not a large squad." He noted that Emanuele Lulli has done well in defence but the club must prepare for a gruelling fixture schedule and injury contingencies. Gasperini addressed concerns about the gap to Napoli and Inter. "Roma suffered from the PSR rules and had to lower the wage bill, and certain players we aspired to reach to be stronger was not possible. The society was available," he said. "We must thank all those who came back despite having to lower their contracts just to play at Roma. This is a great spirit that forms inside, and under this aspect we are among the very first, if not the very first." On Matías Soulé, amid transfer speculation, Gasperini stated: "I have never known of a proposal all summer for him like for other chatted-about players. There has never been anything concrete." Regarding the Champions League group draw on 27 August, he said: "It is a beautiful group with matches of great prestige. Arriving in the top eight is hard for everyone; the objective is to stay inside the playoff spots." Gasperini confirmed Molina has recovered well after playing in the World Cup final and will feature on 31 August, though possibly not from the start. He stressed that Soulé, despite transfer talk, is likely to play against Lecce. On De Roon's age and past comments about Roma, Gasperini said: "When you know him you will understand he is a very solid person, intact physically. He is a player of value, not prospect. He is amusing on social media, a nice person." The transfer market remains open until 1 September, with focus expected to shift entirely to football thereafter.

Marten de Roon has arrived in Rome to complete his transfer from Atalanta on 30 August 2026. The 1991-born Dutch midfielder communicated his wish to join Roma to Atalanta late on 29 August, and the two clubs agreed a deal worth 1 million euros. De Roon will reunite with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini and join fellow Dutch players Devyne Rensch and Donyell Malen in the squad, as well as gain access to Champions League football. De Roon considered his time at Atalanta finished and had been in talks with Bologna before Gasperini moved decisively for him. The move became possible after Roma secured the departure of Neil El Aynaoui to RB Leipzig. Speaking at Atalanta's training ground that morning, de Roon said: "For me it is a sad and difficult day, even though I should be happy. I spoke to Gasperini, it was all a bit of a lightning bolt. He wanted me strongly at Roma, and given how things were here it was the right solution." Medical examinations and contract signing were scheduled to follow his midday arrival at Fiumicino airport.

Marten de Roon is joining Roma from Atalanta, arriving at Fiumicino airport at 12:10 to begin his move to the club. The 35-year-old Dutch midfielder requested a transfer from Bergamo—where he has been since summer 2015 and holds the club record with 445 appearances—to play Champions League football under Gian Piero Gasperini. The clubs agreed a deal worth 1 million euros. De Roon's arrival enables Neil El Aynaoui's departure to RB Leipzig on loan with an option to buy for a combined total of 29–30 million euros. Gasperini had prioritized signing de Roon as his midfield anchor in Rome. The midfielder is renowned for his positional intelligence and defensive work as a ball-winning midfielder—nicknamed "the dyke" at Atalanta for his ability to shield the defence and enable full-backs and attacking midfielders to press forward without defensive concerns. The relationship between de Roon and Gasperini extends far beyond a typical player-coach dynamic; de Roon functions as the tactical extension of the manager's mind on the pitch. In a recent interview, de Roon praised Gasperini's methods, saying: "He says things in a strong way, it's true, but then he takes you into the Champions League." A viral exchange from May 2026 saw Gasperini remark about midfielder Donyell Malen: "I asked Marten about Malen and he told me to relax, that he was a good lad. If we'd had him from September, we'd already be in the Champions League." With Rensch and Malen, the Dutch contingent at Roma is now complete. De Roon was born in 1991 in Zwijndrecht and began his career at ASWH before joining Feyenoord's youth academy, then Sparta Rotterdam and Heerenveen, where he became captain. At Atalanta, aside from a loan spell at Middlesbrough in 2016–17, he became a symbol of the club and a reference point both on and off the pitch. Off the field, he is deeply family-oriented, married to his childhood sweetheart Ricarda, with whom he has three daughters: Linn-Sophie, Evie, and Bo. He is known for witty and sarcastic social-media use; a celebrated 2021 video showed him at Atalanta's official store promising to pay for shirts for the first three fans to buy his number 15 jersey—after hours with none sold, he left dejected, quipping: "I bet something like this never happens to Messi." However, some Roma fans have raised sharp criticism of de Roon's signing, citing an incident from late April 2023. Atalanta defeated Roma 3–1, days after Roma's Europa League quarter-final victory over Feyenoord. De Roon, who grew up in Rotterdam, posted on Instagram: "When your roots are in Rotterdam and you beat Roma," while showing the middle finger of his left hand holding a Conference League keychain—the same souvenir Mourinho had given to a Dutch journalist after Roma's 2022 Conference League triumph in Tirana against Feyenoord. The Italian football federation fined de Roon 2,500 euros months later for posting content deemed "offensive and insulting." The lingering resentment remains, and de Roon now faces the challenge of winning over Roma supporters on the pitch, backed by Gasperini and a squad ready to receive him.

Gian Piero Gasperini held a press conference on 30 August 2026, the day before Roma's Serie A fixture against Lecce at the Via del Mare on 31 August at 18:30. The head coach defended Roma's transfer activity this summer, saying the arrivals of De Roon and Balerdi have brought "two captains" and enhanced the squad's physical robustness. "Economically it gives us the possibility to bring interest also on another role," Gasperini said, indicating Roma still have funds available for further recruitment before the transfer window closes on Tuesday, 1 September. Gasperini confirmed that Rensch will return to group training on Tuesday and Pellegrini from the following week. He explained De Roon's move came quickly, within the last 24–48 hours, after contact with Percassi and the player's strong desire to join Roma. The switch allows Neil El Aynaoui to seek a move where he feels more valued. "We are very solid under this aspect," Gasperini said of the midfield overhaul. On the remaining gaps, he identified a left-back and an attacking winger as priorities: "To complete we must take at least one piece, a full-back and an outside forward remain. If we take two we will be 21, if we take one we will be 20. It is not a large squad." He noted that Emanuele Lulli has done well in defence but the club must prepare for a gruelling fixture schedule and injury contingencies. Gasperini addressed concerns about the gap to Napoli and Inter. "Roma suffered from the PSR rules and had to lower the wage bill, and certain players we aspired to reach to be stronger was not possible. The society was available," he said. "We must thank all those who came back despite having to lower their contracts just to play at Roma. This is a great spirit that forms inside, and under this aspect we are among the very first, if not the very first." On Matías Soulé, amid transfer speculation, Gasperini stated: "I have never known of a proposal all summer for him like for other chatted-about players. There has never been anything concrete." Regarding the Champions League group draw on 27 August, he said: "It is a beautiful group with matches of great prestige. Arriving in the top eight is hard for everyone; the objective is to stay inside the playoff spots." Gasperini confirmed Molina has recovered well after playing in the World Cup final and will feature on 31 August, though possibly not from the start. He stressed that Soulé, despite transfer talk, is likely to play against Lecce. On De Roon's age and past comments about Roma, Gasperini said: "When you know him you will understand he is a very solid person, intact physically. He is a player of value, not prospect. He is amusing on social media, a nice person." The transfer market remains open until 1 September, with focus expected to shift entirely to football thereafter.

Gian Piero Gasperini is poised to field a side almost identical to Roma's opening match against Fiorentina when the club travels to Lecce, with Rodrigo Mora expected to retain his place in an attacking role behind Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen. Two positions remain competitive: on the right flank, Emanuele Lulli, who impressed on his debut, has been tried again in the starting eleven and could earn another chance from the kick-off, though Nahuel Molina remains in genuine contention despite Lulli gaining ground in the pecking order thanks to his showing against Fiorentina. Gasperini's reluctance to rotate comes as he seeks to reward the performances that stood out in that opening fixture. The bench has shifted Devyne Rensch out of contention as he continues to manage a muscle problem. The rest of the eleven appears settled: Wesley on the left, Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante in midfield, and a back three of Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso. The manager is expected to discuss team selection and the transfer window's closing hours in a press conference scheduled for today. Mora has continued to convince Gasperini through his quality, personality and ability to move between the lines, while Lulli's full recovery from his debut and Molina's international match fitness both position them as realistic contenders. The sense is that Gasperini intends minimal change to the opening side, reserving deeper rotation for later in the season.

Roma travel to Lecce on 31 August with head coach Gian Piero Gasperini intent on maintaining tactical consistency after the Fiorentina match. The team will keep the same attacking structure, with Rodrigo Mora operating in the trequarti alongside the forward pairing of Paulo Dybala and Donyell Malen, who are expected to develop their understanding further. Wesley is certain to start on the left flank. On the opposite wing, Nahuel Molina is set to make his first start, having fully recovered and winning the contest with young squad member Emanuele Lulli. Devyne Rensch remains unavailable due to a muscle complaint, while Lorenzo Pellegrini is not expected to return until September. The midfield will be marshalled by Manu Koné and Bryan Cristante. The defensive line will see Gianluca Mancini, Evan N'Dicka and Mario Hermoso deployed in front of goal, with Konstantinos Koulierakis ready to come on during the match. The change from the previous fixture appears limited to Molina's elevation to the starting eleven, underlining Gasperini's confidence in the team's recent form and tactical setup.